Synthetic fuel production system and related techniques

Abstract

A synthetic fuel production system and related techniques are disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, the disclosed system may be configured to produce a liquid fuel using carbon dioxide extracted from the air and hydrogen generated from aqueous solutions by electrochemical means (e.g., water electrolysis). In production of the fuel, the disclosed system may be configured, in accordance with some embodiments, to react the carbon dioxide and hydrogen, for example, to form methanol. The disclosed system also may be configured, in accordance with some embodiments, to utilize one or more subsequent reaction steps to produce a given targeted set of hydrocarbons and partially oxidized hydrocarbons. For example, the disclosed system may be used to produce any one (or combination) of: ethanol; dimethyl ether; formic acid; formaldehyde; alkanes of various chain length; olefines; aliphatic and aromatic carbon compounds; and mixtures thereof, such as gasoline fuels, diesel fuels, and jet fuels.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A modular fuel production system comprising:
 a first module in which carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is extracted from a gas volume received by the system and delivered as dissolved inorganic carbon to one or more other modules of the system; 
 a second module in which at least one of hydrogen (H 2 ) and CO 2  is generated from at least one of a water volume and an aqueous solution received from at least one of:
 one or more other modules of the system; and 
 outside of the system; and 
 
 a third module in which a fuel is produced from synthesis of the extracted CO 2  and the generated H 2 ; 
 wherein the system is configured for substantially autonomous operation while environmental conditions change and electricity availability fluctuates. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas volume comprises at least one of:
 ambient air; 
 exhaust from combustion of carbonaceous materials; and 
 a biogas. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the extraction of the CO 2  in the first module involves liquid aqueous alkaline sorbent gas capture via a gas contactor of generally tubular shape having either:
 a substantially square or rectangular cross-section; or 
 a substantially circular or elliptical cross-section; and 
 
 a liquid aqueous alkaline sorbent flows through the gas contactor in a gravity-fed manner. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the gas contactor comprises a fabric. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the fabric comprises nylon. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the generation of the H 2  in the second module involves alkaline electrolysis. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fourth module in which the water volume received by the system is pre-treated before H 2  is generated therefrom. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the pre-treatment of the water volume in the fourth module involves ion exchange-based pre-treatment. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the third module involves at least one of:
 methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) synthesis; and 
 Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is further configured to receive input power from at least one of a power grid, an energy storage unit, an energy generating unit, and a chemical source of energy. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the energy generating unit is configured to harness at least one of solar energy and wind energy. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprises a liquid fuel. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprises at least one of methanol, dimethyl ether (DME), gasoline, diesel, ethanol, and jet fuel. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system at least one of:
 occupies a space of less than or equal to about 5 m 3 ; 
 occupies a space of less than or equal to about 1 m×1 m×2 m; and 
 has a mass of less than or equal to about 300 kg. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , wherein in the second module, hydrogen additionally is generated from water produced by the system. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas contactor is configured to change shape during operation thereof. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth module in which at least one of water and hydrocarbons are produced from hydrogen, CO 2 , carbon monoxide (CO), or oxygenated or un-oxygenated hydrocarbons, wherein said materials are recirculated or received from one or more other modules of the system. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth module configured to condition and partially store intermittent electric power. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth module configured for water preparation and cleanup. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth module configured for processing waste streams generated within the system. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a product stream output by the system is adjustable based on at least one of operating conditions and external demand. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to process enough CO 2  to produce up to 3 gallons of fuel per day. 
     
     
       23. A system comprising:
 a plurality of the modular fuel production system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the constituent modular fuel production systems is separately functional. 
 
     
     
       24. A system comprising:
 a plurality of the modular fuel production system of  claim 1 , wherein a connection between modules does not allow for separation into standalone systems.